Education and learning

State of illinois illinois center for nursing financial aid scholarships and grants

Financial Aid, Scholarships and Grants

State of Illinois Grants and Scholarship Opportunities

Nursing Education Scholarship Program:

This program provides assistance to individuals pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associate degree in nursing, a hospital-based nursing diploma, a baccalaureate degree in nursing or a graduate degree in nursing. Amount of awards varies based upon type of degree, type of institution and whether the student is attending on a full- or part-time basis. Top of Page

Competitive Grant for Nursing Schools:

This initiative creates a competitive grant for nursing schools to increase the number of nurses graduating from Illinois nursing programs. The grants can be used for a number of purposes, including but not limited to: student retention programs, increasing faculty, increasing clinical space, creation of an evening or weekend program and tutoring programs for the national nursing licensing exam. This Program is administered by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Top of Page

Fellowships for Nursing School Faculty:

The Nurse Educator Fellowship Program provides approximately $10,000 fellowships to outstanding nursing faculty in Illinois. to Fellowship funds are salary supplements that, at the discretion of the Fellow, may also be used for expenses related to professional development and continuing education. Faculty members are nominated by their nursing schools. The program is administered by IBHE (www.ibhe.org/grants ). Applications are available in the fall of each year, pending funding.

Federal Financial Aid Opportunities

Pell Grants:

Unlike loans, these loans do not have to be repaid. Generally Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not already earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Top of Page

Stafford Loans

Unlike loans, these loans do not have to be repaid. Generally Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not already earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Are subsidized loans awarded on the basis of financial need. You will not be charged any interest before you begin repayment or during authorized periods of deferment. (An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You’ll be charged interest from the time the loan is paid in full.)

Minority Financial Aid Opportunities

Private Funding and Other Financial Aid Opportunities

Institutional Funding

Each college or university will have financial aid resources available to students. Be sure to contact your education provider for more details and how to apply.

Military Nursing

Service in the U.S. military can provide you one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences and provide opportunities for nursing education. Educational funding is provided for BSN, as well as Advanced Practice degrees in nursing with a commitment to serve in your selected branch of military service. RNs coming into the military with an Associate Degree will be considered enlisted personnel. RNs with a BSN or Advanced Practice degree (MSN or PhD) will be considered an officer. Military nurses work in base hospitals and clinics in addition to providing health care in field hospitals, aboard ship and can even provide in-flight care for air military medical transfers.

The following will information will provide you with links for more specific information on nursing careers in specific branches of the military.

Both men and women have served as Army nurses since 1775. It wasn’t until the distinguished contributions of female contract nurses during and following the 1898 Spanish-American War were recognized, that the justification and need for a permanent nurse corps was established. The Army Nurse Corps became a part of the Army Medical Department in 1901. Since that time thousands of men and women have served as army nurses for our nation caring for the sick and wounded, comforting the dying, risking their lives, being taken prisoner, and dying in the field.

For nearly 100 years before Congress formally established the Navy Nurse Corps in 1908, women worked as nurses aboard Navy ships and in Navy hospitals. As early as the War of 1812, volunteers performed nursing duty in places that were often dangerous and required courage in the face of adversity. In addition to their own service-related activities, Navy nurses provide nursing support for the U.S. Marine Corps.